NTSB Factual Report

On July 9, 2005, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N73788, sustained substantial damage when it encountered terrain during an aborted landing at the Akiachak Airport, Akiachak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand air taxi flight by Inland Aviation, Aniak, Alaska, under Title 14, CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The commercial certificated pilot and the three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight departed Bethel, Alaska, about 1300.

In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dated July 12, the pilot reported that he carried extra speed on landing to compensate for gusty wind conditions. He wrote that after touching down he realized he could not stop on the remaining runway, and aborted the landing. The airplane did not become airborne, ran off the end of the runway onto rough terrain, and nosed over. The pilot reported that the airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's delay in aborting the landing, which resulted in the airplane running off the end of the runway and nosing over. A factor associated with the accident was the rough/uneven terrain off the end of the runway.